Why dress code protests fail
Some schools don’t let students wear hats, and every school we’ve visited has had a spaghetti strap debacle. Students always kinda want to protest, have everyone wearing a hat one day to fight the policy...
Never happens. Students are too afraid of what their parents will say, disciplinary consequences at school, and anti-FOMO: what I'm the only one who does it?
Here’s how to solve every single one of those problems.
[Email template and auto-sender to all parents in your district explaining why the policy has bad consequences, the skills students will learn from organizing, and the way this has been handled at other similar schools. Fill out this 2-question form and we’ll auto-send an email on the date of your choice.]
[Same thing for teachers - this isn’t meant as disrespect to you.]
You need an alternative and a negotiating chip. In exchange, we promise to show up more engaged, show up more often, etc.. Hold us accountable by doing…
Getting punished for speaking your mind improves your college application.
Fighting apathy and FOMO depends on your school. If everyone dresses up for spirit week and shows up to football games, this shouldn’t be a problem. If school is more cliquey or people are usually apathetic, this could be harder.
Behavioral psychologists found proven ways to change culture without the hassle. We turned their research into a playbook for high schools.
Make it FUNNY: guys wear a girl’s spaghetti strap shirt over theirs. People tape hats to their backs, and whoever has the most hats wins a prize.
Make it REAL: Connect people on common ground (this is frustrating for all of us). Show examples of this working at other schools.
Start smaller: Get everyone to wear red.
Email an administrator with your demands and solutions. Try to go for someone you’re friendly with, but the vice principal might be your next best bet.
You can do it anonymously here.